Sheet metal heating stove



Nov. 15, 1949 J. M. HIGMAN SHEET METAL HEATING STOVE Filed Dec. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1949 J, M HlGMAN y 2,488,014

SHEET METAL HEATING sTovE l Filed Dec. 26, 1,945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff f EN Y I 1,7 5. :f2-P0445 /I//. H/e'M/W, Y: g INVENToR.

Arme/ven Patented Nov. 15, 1949 Jerome M. Higman,

Rosemead, Calif.; Anna H.

Higman administratrix of said Jerome M. Higman, deceased Application December 26, 1945, Serial No. 637,155 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-59) IIfhs invention relates to heating stoves and has vfor an object a provision of a, h eater which is particularly adapted for use as a camp heating stove, but which is not necesarily limited to such use as it is also capable 'of affordingconvenience yand comfort, both indoors and out, in many different types of use. s

A more detailed Vobject of the invention is to provide a heater which is readily portable, this object being attained by so designing the heater that it is small in size, light in weight, and employs a type of fuel which obviates the necessity of connecting the heater to a flue or vent.

A further object of my invention is to provide .a heater of the general class indicated, which can be manufactured at very low cost, and yet which is highly efficient in that it is economical of fuel and is capable of providing heat in much larger volume' than ordinarily expected of heaters of smaller size or within its general price range.

Another Objectis to provide, in a heater of the class described, details of construction which operate to prevent heat fromrpassing from the heater to the surface upon which it is supported, in such quantity as to endanger the latter.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a heater which is of such small size and light weight that it is capable of being used in locations to which heaters of more conventional design are unadaptable, such as under a camp table or under a camp stool, so that the heater serves adequately in supplying warmth to one or more persons in its immediate vicinity even when being used out of doors, n

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved heater which is constructed entirely of sheet metal and portions of which are fastened together by interlocking parts of the sheet metal itself instead of requiring the manipulation of such fastening devices, as rivets, screws, or the like, thus reducing the time and labor required for its'assembly.

' The invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawing and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred embodiment of my invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the claim.

f Referring to drawings: v

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a heating stove constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in vertical medial section. l

' Figure 3 is a compound view in horizontal section, the planes of section being indicated by the lines 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an accessory rdesigned for use within the heating stove of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 2, but showing the accessory of Figure 4 in operative relation Within the stove. The present invention contemplates provision "of a heating stove of such small size and light weight that it is particularly adapted for use as a camp heating stove, not only because of its ready portability but also because it is capable of affording much convenience and comfort when positioned under a table about which several persons are seated. When so used, a stove incorporating the principles of the present invention has been found to provide ample heat to keep several persons adequately warm even when used out of doors during relatively cold weather. Another manner of use which has been found to afford much comfort and convenience isto place a lighted heating stove incorporating the principles of the present invention under the camp stool or chair on which a person is seated. However, it should be understood that the stove of the present invention is also adapted for use indoors, one of the features of the stove which makes such use feasible being certain of its details of construction which protect the surface, such as a wooden or even a carpeted floor, from the heat emanating from the stove with ample security to avoid all danger to such floors even while the stove is operating at full capacity. Owing to the fact that the stove is designed to use fuel in the form of glowing coals, such for example as charcoal or briquettes which, after having been initially lighted, cease to give off smoke or fumes in objectionable quantity, it is unnecessary to connect the stove of the present invention to any flue or vent outlet.

' Specifically describing the details of construction of my improved and simplified heater Iand referring specifically to the drawing, the body 6 of the heater comprises an upright shell I preferably of cylindrical form formed by rolling a flat sheet of sheet metal so as to bring its end edges 8 and 9 into overlapping relation and fastening them together as by a plurality of rivets at suitably spaced intervals along the edges 8 and 9..

Greater convenience is afforded, however, by employing fastening means of a non-permanent nature, such as removable screws I i either threaded directly into the sheet metal or into nuts I2 on the opposite side of the overlapping edges il and 9 from that on which the heads of the screws are disposed, or even by merely threading a piece of wire through several holes at suitably spaced intervals throughout the length of the edges 8 and 9. By using non-permanent fastenings, the body E is subject to being straightened out to assume a substantially flat position, with the result that thus the disassembled stove can be packed in a smaller space and thus be carried more conveniently as a piece of camping equipment.

A pair of vertically spaced, horizontal plates IS and Il are fitted within the shell 7, the upper plate I6 serving as a grate to support the fuel f8, whereas the function ofthe lower plate I'I is that of shielding the surface upon which the heater is supported from heat radiated downwards from the grate I and also to prevent any ashes or coals which may fall through the perforations i9 which are provided in the grate it, from falling onto the stoves supporting surface. The lower plate I'f is spaced a substantial distance above the bottom edge 2l of the shell l so that even though the lower plate Il may become quite warm, the supporting surface will be adequately protected against being scorched.

The upper plate or grate It is supported within the shell 'i by means of a plurality of tongues 22 in horizontal alignment with each other and extending inwards with respect to the shell 1. Each of these tongues 22 is formed by severing a preferably triangular piece from the sheet metal of which the shell ll is formed, each tongue being severed throughout all but one edge and then by bending the tongue inwards along that unsevered edge, thus leaving an aperture 23 in the shell 'I corresponding in shape to the tongue. Consequently the apertures 23 left in the shell 'I when the grate-supporting tongues 22 are formed, serve to establish communication between the exterior of the heater and the space 24 within the heater between the two plates I8 and II.

A similar series of tongues 26 below the lower plate Il support this plate Il; and the apertures 21 left in the shell 'I when the tongues 2-6 are bent inwards establish communication between the exterior of the heater and the space 28 within the heater below the lower plate Il. This provides adequate circulation of air below the lower plate Y II so as further to guard against scorching the stoves supporting surface.

, The tongues 22 and 26 are all formed by bending them inwards and upwards so that they extend inwards from the uppermost edegs of the apertures 23 and 2l respectively. Another series of tongues 3l are bent inwards and downwards so that they extend inwards from the lower edges of the apertures 32 left in the shell 'I when the tongues are bent inwards. These tongues 3| engage the upper surface of the upper plate I6 with the result that this grate-forming plate I'E is gripped rmly between the tongues 3| engaging its upper surface and the tongues 22 engaging its under surface.

Still another series of similarly formed tongues 36 extending inwards from vthe lower edges of apertures 3@ in the shell l, engage the upper surface of the lower plate Il in overlapping relationship therewith, so that this plate Il is gripped between the tongues 34 engaging its upper surface and the tQIlgues 2B engaging its under surface.

Thus it may be seen that the apertures 36, as well as the apertures 23, open into the space 24 between the two plates I6 and I'I so as to assure Very thorough circulation of air within this space and provide additional protection against overheating of the lower plate I1.

The apertures 32 as Well as the perforations I9 in the grate I 6 permit entry of air to the space 4I above the grate I6 within which the fuel I8 is disposed, with the result that ample provision is made for circulation of air through the fuel IB to assure thorough and amply rapid combustion of the fuel.

` Since the two plates I6 and I'I are merely gripped between the upper and lower tongues associated therewith and preferably are not permanently attached thereto, this feature co-operates with the removable nature of the fastening means II and I2 whereby the end edges 8 and 8 of the shell 'I are screwed together, in permitting disassembly of the stove as described hereinabove.

A top plate 46 preferably provided with a large number of relatively large apertures 4l, rests upon the upper -edge 48 of the shell 7, this plate 46 being retained against accidental displacement by a series of downwardly extending flanges 49 struck from the material of the plate 46 at suitably spaced intervals throughout its peripheral edge and at such distance inwards from the outer edge of the plate that they engage preferably the inner surface of the shell 1, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

I also provide a handle 5I in the form of an inverted U-shaped bail, the lower ends 52 of which are bent inwards so as to pass through suitably positioned holes 53 in the shell I adjacent its upper edge, these inwardly extending portions 52 preferably being bent upwards as indicated at 54 within the shell 'I so as to retain the bail 5I in position under normal circumstances of use but to permit easy removal of the handle when it is desired to disassemble the heater.

Thus it may be seen that I have provided a heater of very inexpensive construction and very light in weight which is subject to being taken down so that all of its parts are substantially fiat, with the result that it is very easily portable as a piece of camping equipment. However, owing to the manner in which the plates I6 and I1 are supported and retained within the assembled stove, i. e., without the necessity of manipulating any screws, rivets, or other fastening devices, assembly of the stove from its dismounted to its operating arrangement can be performed with the utmost ease. After the stove has been assembled, a supply fuel I8 such as charcoal or briquettes, is placed within the fuel space 4I and this fuel is most easily lighted by stuing a few pieces of paper or rags saturated with alcohol or kerosene through the apertures 23 and then igniting them 'so that llames therefrom will pass upwards through the perforations I9 and ignite the fuel I 8.

I found that the presence of the apertures 32 in the shell 'l just above and around the edge of the grate IS affords extra convenience in permitting the removal of any excess amount of ashes withinv the fuel space 4I. After the stove has been in operation for any length of time its fuel I 8 can be caused to burn more rapidly and thus the heat output of the stove increased merely by picking the stove up with its bail 5I and then rotating it so as to turn the stove about its vertical axis through say a quarter turn. This will cause the ejection of ashes from the apertures 32 by centrifugal action and thus increase the rate at which the fuel i8 is burning. On the other hand, if the heater is left undisturbed after being charged with fuel and having that charge of fuel ignited, it can be relied upon as a source of heat in a volume adequate for many purposes and for a greatly prolonged period of time. It has been found in actual use that when operated in this manner the heater of the present invention is capable of keeping the interior of a small tent comfortably warm for more than five hours even when the outside temperature falls to below freezing.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an accessory which has been found to afford convenience when a maximum rate of heat output is desired. This accessory comprises a supplementary grate member 6| in the form of a frustum of a cone, the base of which is slightly less in diameter than the inside of the heater, while its height is less than the distance between the upper plate I6 of the heater and the heaters upper edge. Consequently the supplementary grate member 6l is receivable within the upper portion of the body 6 of the heater, supported above and closely adjacent the upper plate member I6 as by resting upon the upper surfaces of the tongues 3| which engage the upper surface of the upper plate i6, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The frustoconical grate 6| can most easily be made from a substantially arcuate strip of sheet metal curled so as to bring its two end edges 62 and 63 into overlapping relation where they can be firmly secured together as by rivets 64 as illustrated in Figure 4. A plurality of perforations 65 is formed in the strip of sheet metal, preferably while it is still flat and, also preferably, the upper end of the supplementary grate member 6I i-s left open, thus providing an aperture 61 at the top of the frusto-conical grate 6| which optionally can be left open or can be closed as by a cap 68 which preferably is formed complementary to the upper end of the grate member 6| and is provided with a convenient handle 69 having a ring 'H at its upper end which facilitates installing and removing the cap 68 when the stove is in operation and when the cap 68 is hot.

When the heater is employed with the auxiliary frusto-conical grate member 6| installed therein, the supply 16 of fuel within the heater is assured a more thorough flow of air therethrough and consequently a more efficient supply of oxygen, which will thus cause a more rapid rate of combustion of the fuel. Instead of being permitted to form a solid bed of coals, as illustrated in Figure 2, the bed formed by the auxiliary grate member 6| is hollow and every portion of the bed of coals is closer to a source of fresh air than is the case when the auxiliary grate member 6I is not used. When igniting the fuel, and when it is desired to cause the fuel to be consumed at the maximum rate and thus give off the largest possible supply of heat, the cap 68 is placed in position upon the otherwise open top 6l of the supplementary grate 6I, thus causing all of the air flowing upward through the frusto-conical member El to pa-ss through the fuel. However, after the fuel has been ignited and it is desired to lessen the rate of combustion and thereby prolong the time before which replenishment of fuel will be necessary, the cap 68 can be removed, thus permitting a large percentage of the air passing upward through the frusto-conical member 6| to escape through the open top 61 without actually passing through the bed of coals. The ring 1I in the upper end of the caps handle 69 is adapted to receive the end of a metal rod, such as a poker, -or a small branch, so that the cap 68 can be installed or removed easily even when hot.

I claim:

A heating stove of the character described comprising a housing of sheet metal, two series of tongues severed from said sheet metal along all but one edge of each tongue, each of said tongues being bent along said unsevered edge thereof to extend inwards'of said housing, and means providing a grate supported within said housing upon the tongues of one of said series, the apertures left in said sheet metal by bending the tongues on which Said grate is supported establishing communication between the exterior of said housing and the interior thereof below said grate, the tongues of the other of said series extending into overlapping relation with the upper surface of said grate, and the apertures left in said sheet metal by bending said overlapping tongues establishing communication between the exterior of said housing and the interior thereof above said grate.

JEROME M. HIGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,830 Tuttle Dec. 21, 1880 722,289 Donnelly Mar. 10, 1903 950,414 Sweley Feb. 22, 1910 1,582,121 Chumley Apr. 27, 1926 1,925,682 Upright et al Sept. 5, 1933 1,966,642 Nigg July 1'7, 1934 2,221,098 Langsam Nov. 12, 1940 2,344,403 Gaffney et a1 Mar. 14, 1944 

